Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-09-30
IN-BREEDING.
american Cultivator.1


There is.a wide difference of opinion
among practical breeders concerning the
question of the inbreeding of trotting
stock. The advocates of this system
point to the fact that the English thor
oughbred, which is acknowledged to be
the fleetest, hardest and most courageous
type of the equine family, was produced
by the judicious inbreeding of Arabian
stock, Those opposed to the practice
claim that inbreeding results in diminish
ed size, while those in favor of the system
point to the fact that the animals from
which the thoroughbred originated were
only about 14.2, and the modern English
racer will average at least 1872. The
theorist argues that certain proportion
of the produce of stallion and mare,
both of which are distinguished by some
special trait. will possess this particular
trait in a greater degree than either of its
parents. Those opposed to the practice
admit that such is the fact. but argue that
undesirable traits and certain forms of
latent unsoundness are quite as liable to
be reproduced or a little more so than the
valuable qualities.
Speaking upon the subject of inbreed-
ing, the eminent English author, F. r.
Welsh (Stonehenge) remarks that when
any new breed of animals is first intro
duced into this country, in-and-in breed
ing, by which is to be understood the
pairing of relations within the degree Of
second cousins twice or more in success
sion, can scarcely be avoided; and hence,
when first the value of the Arab was
generally recognized, the breeder of the
race horse of those days could not well
avoid having recourse to the plan. Thus
we find in the early pages Of the stud
book constant instances of very close I'M
breeding, often carried to such an extent
AS to become incestuous. The result was
our modern thoroughbred; but it does
not follow that because the plan answered
in producing that celebrated kind of ami
NAL, it will be equally successful in keep
ing up the breed in its original perfection.
The same author remarks that the breed
er can have no hesitation in coming to
the conclusion that inbreeding carried
out once or twice is likely to be attended
with good results.
From their long experience and close
observation of results English breeders
have deduced several general rules.
Among these are the following: "Breed-
ing in-and-in is injurious to mankind, and
has always been forbidden by Divine law,
as well as by most human law-givers On
the other hand it prevails extensively in
a state of nature with all gregarious ami
mails (such as the horse), among which
the strongest male retains his daughters
and granddaughters until deprived of his
harem by younger and stronger rivals.
Hence, in those of our domestic animals,
which are naturally gregarious, it is rea-
sonable to conclude that breeding Sin and
in is not periodical, because it is in con-
formity with their natural instincts. if
not carried further by art than nature
teaches by her example,"
Now in nature we find that about two
consecutive crosses of the same blood is
the usual extent to which it is carried,
as the life of the animal is the limit and
it is a remarkable fact that in practice a
conclusion has been arrived at which ex-
actly comedies with these natural laws
"Once in and once out" is the rule given by
Mr.. Smith in his work on breeding for the
turf, but twice in will be found to be more
in accordance with the practice of oul
most successful (early) breeders.
Speaking of the winning sires, tho
same author remarks; LET any one
ascertain what horses have been the mos
remarkable of late years as stations, ant
with very few exceptions he will fine
that they were considerably inbred" Ii
speaking of the racing stock of Virginia
Kentucky and other Southern States, the
well known writer, Frank Forester,
remarks that it is worthy of comment
that every one Of the four most successful
of modern English stations in this